INTENSE FIGHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 20, 24 January 1936, Page 10

INTENSE FIGHTING

TEMBIEN BATTLE

ETHIOPIAN COUNTER-ATTACK

SUCCESS CLAIMED

United I'ross Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received January 21, 2 p.m.) LONDON, January 23. ' Ar "Times" copyright message from Addis Ababa still reports the Abyssinian claim of a successful counter-attack after the initial Italian attack in Tembien.

A communique declares that the battle opened near: Makale on January 20. The Ethiopians, after intense hand-to-hand fighting, occupied many important Italian positions and' captured large quantities of arms, ammunition, provisions, and several guns, and killed, thoi^ands of Italians.

The communique expresses satisfaction that Ras Desta has fallen back from Negelli, which . was a dangerously advanced position, rendering supply difficult. . ...,-..

Although it.is admitted that his retirement in Sidamo opens a-gap permitting the Italians to clear a passage up the Ganale Dorya and Webbe Shibeli Rivers to Mogalo and. Ginir, which the Abyssinians are now reinforcing, Ras Desta denies reverses, and says that he has retired to the mountains to avoid the Italian tanks.

"The Times" Rome correspondents report that Negelli has been captured, a combined attack by cavalry, whippet tanks, armoured cars, and mechanised arms attacking frontally, while horsemen deployed on the flanks, and. brilliantly charged with the lance. General Graziani followed up the advance so quickly that he entered Negelli two hours after its capture.